Hermione Somewhere between 15 and 16 August 2017 (Bloody time zone changes)
We leave by portkey from one place on one day, only to arrive at another place on another day. I feel like I have the time turner again. I am totally turned around.
Draco, Harry, and I land in the living room of the Potter house.
We are greeted by a whirl of red hair, "Shhhhh but you're home!" she whisper yells. That really is an oxymoron, but it fits; and only Ginny Weasley-Potter has it mastered. She crushes me in a boisterous hug, then turns to her husband and nearly jumps him right there. Draco and I both look at each other, blushing.
"Okay love, I will see you tomorrow at the party. Go be with your baby girl." Draco holds me close to him, laying my head on his shoulder as he nuzzles me. "I'll be the devilishly handsome one."
"I'll see you then, if I have to." I say teasingly. Like I don't want to see the man who risked everything to make sure I would be here for my daughter's birthday. Right now I want to call him Sir Galahad or something. He is my knight, like Trini said.
"Draco, we all owe you a lot. You brought my best friend home," now he's in Ginny's bone crushing hug.
"Potter, please extract your wife. I mean no offense, but I fancy my bride. This one's yours." But his eyes say something different. He is smiling and happy to be accepted by my extended family.
"Nice try Draco, you're stuck with me. I mean, at least for coffee weekly. Dinners at each other's' houses monthly at least. And that's not including my brothers and sisters in law, nieces and nephews, parents…"
"I get it, I'm now attached to the Weasley clan. I figured that out already Mrs Potter. But Ginny, I would like to breathe. And I think my wife would like that too." I think I hear a slight hint of fear in his voice as to how much is involved with the Weasley clan though. And Ginny in particular.
"Fine, you get home. I'm keeping her for a few days." She giggles and grabs my hand running upstairs. I feel like a fourth year again getting ready for the Yule Ball with Ginny and all the girls.
We stop in front of a room that my daughter has been in while I'm on this outreach mission. The two of us silently open the door to see my beautiful Rose sound asleep. "Go to her. She'll want to see you before any of us." And with that Ginny gives another backbreaking hug and pushes me into Rosie's room.
I take a look one last time down the stairs and see Harry - my best friend - handing my husband - Draco Malfoy - a drink and ushering him into the lounge. "Gin, could you ever imagine?"
"'Mione, you and Draco? Possibly. Harry accepting him? Hells Bells no!"
"That was a weird picture downstairs."
She's giggling, "Understatement. Only Hermione Granger could bring those two together. Only the brother she never had and the one who stole her heart. But it is really weird to watch."
"Almost as weird as Draco asking about Harry and your sex life." She looked like she was hit with a stunning hex. "Yeah, it isn't repeatable. But funny nonetheless."
"Hermione Jean Granger… Malfoy… that's going to take some time. You do not, under any circumstances, talk to your husband about my sex life. But you need to tell me how something like that came up in the first place. And from the look on your face, you have a fulfilling sex life now."
"Understatement." I squeeze her hand and go sneaking into my baby girl's bedroom. "Happy birthday Rosie." I whisper just before climbing in next to her in bed.
"MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The whole house is now awake, if they weren't before. "Mum, you're here. You're really here. Has Auntie Ginny seen you? Hugo? Is Uncle Harry back too? This is the best birthday ever!"
Draco gets 'stepfather of the year' and Harry 'uncle of the year'. I need to get polo shirts with that embroidered on them because Merlin knows my husband will never wear a tacky tshirt with that imprinted on it. Now a coffee mug, that may never leave his office except to go to the conference room to brag in front of his board of directors. Yes my husband would drag that poor mug everywhere. But he deserves it.
"Good morning to you princess. Happy birthday. I've missed you."
"HUGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Mum's here!"
"Yeah I got that the first time you decided to wake up the entire neighborhood," mumbles my son from the hallway. "When's breakfast?"
"Check with Aunt Ginny downstairs Hugo. And it's good to see you too."
"Hmph" is all that is heard as he goes downstairs followed by a pouncing Padfoot. Yeah, he's Ron's.
My daughter, on the other hand is bouncing around her room. She's telling me everything that's happened over this time in explicit detail.
I keep thinking how much I want to tell her that everything that has happened since I last saw her. How much I want to tell her that her family has expanded and it isn't bad.
How much I wish her father was here, since I know he's not dead. But I doubt that he will come back anytime soon.
"Are you ready for your party, princess?" I try and get my daughter to focus on the event of today and not look back on everything I've missed. That hurts. I feel - guilty. Guilty for leaving my family for my work. Guilty for falling in love. Guilty for marrying a man my children don't even know. On a whim. But it was one of the best whims I've ever done.
"Mum, I don't care about a party or anything. I have you!"
"Baby, you always have me. Always." I give her a hug and kiss the top of her head. "Now get ready. You have the family coming and your friends. Maybe a new friend too."
"What do you know mum?"
"You'll see. It's just a son of someone we knew at school. His son is going to be a first year too and wanted to meet a few of his classmates."
"So you invited him to my birthday party? Awkward."
You have no idea princess. "Be nice. His father has been helpful."
"Yes mum." She starts pulling out dresses. "Which one?"
"I would go with the yellow with the roses. It looks great on you."
"And it is Gryffindor colors. I can't wait, just a few more weeks and I'm going to be a Gryffindor like you and dad."
"Or a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff or Slytherin. Any of the houses would be fine for you."
"Mum really, I am brave and a Weasley. I am going to be a Gryffindor like all of the family."
Not all the family. At least not anymore.
"It doesn't matter, but you can always ask the hat to be in Gryffindor, if you really want. That is what Uncle Harry did."
"I will. I am a Gryffindor. I know it."
My daughter. She has Ron's and my stubbornness multiplied by all Weasleys.
I give her a kiss and remind her to get ready and head downstairs myself.
"Morning 'Mione. This came for you already." Ginny gives me a smile saying she knows who the letter is from.
"Thank you." I grab it smiling. I don't need to look to know who it's from. "Lemon blueberry pancakes? Is that what I smell?"
"Our birthday girl's favorite. Hugo save some for your sister and cousins."
"Mmehatvr." For those who don't speak Weasley with a full mouth, that is 'mmm whatever.' I have been fluent in it since Ron was about 13 and would constantly shove food in his mouth unapologetically while trying to carry on a conversation.
I grab a cup of coffee and go into the study, my favorite place to hide at the Potters. I see Harry brows furrowed, as he reads over some papers. "That doesn't look good."
"It's just the final report from your - um - time away."
"Is that what you're calling it?"
"It is what worked for him." He put the papers down. "I can't say how much help he was. He and Theo, they really put themselves out there."
"What did you two talk about when we went upstairs?" He gives me a surprised look. "You're not that sneaky Harry Potter. Both your wife and I saw you."
"We were discussing lots - history, Rio, this trip and your time away."
"Rio huh?"
"Yeah, we are looking for some signal that will not have us repeat that awkwardness."
"It's simple. KNOCK!" I chuckle.
He is blushing terribly, "honestly, it was the last thing I ever expected to see in my entire life." He cringes noticeably. "And I would love it to be obliviated from my memory forever."
"What about this 'time away' as you put it?"
"That is what this is." He holds up the papers that he was reading over earlier. "Theo gave an extremely in depth report on Bacunawa. I have to edit out some parts of it, but really I don't think we should. He gives the structure, the infiltration into the Muggle governments, how the organization began, everything. I want him to do my reports in the future. Or at least train the other aurors how to write a report." He shows me a report that looks like it is about 20 feet long.
"Where was this when Theo was in school? I don't think he ever put that much effort."
He shakes his head. "No. I think it was just finding his niche. And Draco found Theo's. Just so you know, McGonagall sent me the security updates Hogwarts is implementing this year. And then there was an addendum that just came this morning. Draco is taking security precautions for both Scorpius and Rosie. There is also a 'fail safe' that is for Rose, whatever that is."
I am in shock. And thankful. "I can only assume it is like my anklet."
"It is an ingenious idea that they came up with. It was what got us thinking that Theo should give some ideas to the aurors and the upper level of the Ministry. Though for you it might be - um - redundant."
"Redundancies when it comes to safety protocols are never redundant."
"Who said that?"
"Me." I chuckle. "My opinion may have changed recently."
"Well that will make my life a little easier when it comes to the safety of the next Minister. What would you say Hermione?"
"I say you may have to work closer with Theo on that." I take a sip of coffee, watching him closely over my cup.
Harry looks again at the report in front of him. "I understand why Draco says he hires the best at what they do. I think the Ministry is missing out on a lot of expertise that MII has tucked away."
"Well the Ministry now has an in with MII." I wink. "I may know someone, who knows someone, who can get some additional training in areas that the Ministry is lacking."
Harry snorts. And I see him wiping the coffee from his nose. "An 'in'. That's what you're calling this? I wonder what Draco will say about that?"
"An 'in' with some amazing benefits." I chuckle. "Benefits include: an amazing wardrobe, a knight in death eater cloak, mind blowing sex,"
"STOP RIGHT THERE! I don't want to know." He is sweating. "You're enjoying this way too much 'Mione."
"How many years have I had to deal with you and Ginny? This is payback."
"But Ron and you"
"Oh no… let's just say oh NO! No comparison. Let's just say he lives up to the 'Slytherin Sex God' title he had at school." I ponder how to explain it.
"So you don't mind that he was with half the school?"
"There's a saying: It's like climbing Everest, sure it's been done before but the view is spectacular."
His jaw has disconnected and landed on the floor. "Ginny love. Have you ever climbed Everest?"
"Whatever do you mean darling?" We hear from the kitchen.
"That wasn't a denial, Harry."
"I noticed." He irks.
I realize I am still holding an unopened letter from 'Everest'. "May I?"
"As long as there's no sex discussion in it, fine by me." There are times that Harry is that awkward 14 year old boy with a crush but no idea how to act on it.
I open the elegantly penned letter.
My love,
I didn't get the chance to say a proper farewell last night, but know that you have not left my thoughts. My bed is empty without you beside me. An emptiness that is mirrored in my heart. Every day that we are apart, I yearn to end. I am only complete with you beside me.
Soon we will be united again, if only for a short while.
There are some un-niceties that we have to review due to our spontaneity, but that is nothing that a few signatures won't avail.
By now Harry has probably informed you of some protocols that are being instituted at Hogwarts for next term and that I have included Rose in them. I do not want to overstep my authority, I am just thinking of Rose and Hugo as I would Scorpius. I look at them as my children - or stepchildren - with the same responsibilities as a parent.
If Ronald steps back up as a father to them, I will resign to him and follow his - and your - requests.
Know that I may be overstepping the 'unknown stepfather role' with Rose's present. It is a beta test new product that we are working on. It can follow a person's physical nuances - heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and if there is an unusual spike it will lock into in a means similar to legilimency to see if the person is in danger. If so, it will alert you via your anklet. Then we can send in Theo and his army and Harry and the aurors. But like everything Malfoy, it may be a little over the top to some of the Weasleys.
And she's also getting the iPhone I promised. It will be from Scorpius. That's more for the nights she needs her mum.
Please let me know if I am overstepping in any way. I just want her safe. Even if I have never met her, I've always wanted a daughter. One that I can watch her and her mum go buy a Yule Ball dress and say if it is too short or low cut. One that I can stress over boys like me and give the 'don't you dare hurt my little girl' speech. One that I can watch grow up to be a strong independent woman like her mother. For that, thank you.
I just want you to know, that I am in this. It may have been a spur of the moment thing, but it is something I will never regret. I have loved you for what seems like forever, and I will forever more.
Yours Eternally,
Draco
"Harry."
"Yes 'Mione."
"Write your wife a love letter." I fold the letter back into the envelope. "Tell her thank you. For everything she does and everything she's given you."
"Remind me to tell him to stop making the rest of the male population look bad." He said with a smile. I take my leave, but not without noticing that he's pulling out some parchment and a quill.
Ginny is a party planner extraordinaire. She didn't miss one detail.
Everything was held outside, on what usually is the pitch, with a large tent adorned in red and gold. There were crimson couches about, random desks and tables strewn, and even a bloody armadillo. All the things that reminded me of the common room that I called home for seven years. I felt like a bit of my home had come here.
"Is this what it really looks like?" I heard a deep voice with a hint of distaste come up from behind.
"Pretty close. Pretty darn close."
"If there's Luna's bloody lion head somewhere here, I'm leaving," he whispers into my ear sending shivers down my entirety. I feel his arms slink alongside me. His cologne tickles my nose.
"Knowing Ginny, it is here somewhere. Oh Merlin, Harry's quidditch jersey from first year!"
"Ok that's enough…" He drops his arms and I feel him turn to leave.
"You're not leaving and you know it." I grab my husband's hand and pull him back.
"No, I'm not. But gah. Can we get some other colors here? Or is everything red and gold?"
"Welcome to Gryffindor house."
"And they say Slytherin is arrogant."
"Because you are."
"We are nowhere near this bad. Yeah my family seems to have everything in silver, green and black but still this is just wow. Over the top. It reminds me of a circus tent. Even all these Weasleys - they match."
"Behave Draco."
"Actually I am honey. I haven't thrown up once." There was an obvious, strained pause. "Yet."
"Come on, let's introduce you around."
"As what? Almost everyone knows me. Hell I even remember, oh hell what's his name, the suck up - Percy. And there's the gal from Beauxbatons Fleur what's-her-name and her sister that almost drowned if it weren't for Saint Potter. I don't think that they are ready to meet the 'new and improved' Draco Malfoy. I'll just be here as Scorpius's dad, tucked away in the shadows for once. Give Rose the spotlight."
"Scorpius seems to be getting on with the family." I notice a young man, with striking resemblance to my husband - same platinum blonde hair and deep grey eyes - talking to Albus Potter, Harry's middle child.
"That's Al Potter right?" I nod. "He looks so much like Harry. Eerie actually." He cocks his head to the side, examining the young man at a different angle.
"Says the man who apparently cloned himself in his own child." I chuckle. "Scorpius looks identical to you at that age."
"Poor kid, cursed with extremely good looks." I catch him smirking, and swat his arm
I look around to see where my children are hiding. Hugo is by the food table pointing excitedly to all the artifacts around the room. Rose is chatting with a couple of her cousins, while keeping close attention to Al and Scorpius. Weasleys young and old are enjoying the festivities as the last of them prepares to go to Hogwarts in a matter of weeks.
"What would happen, honey, if she doesn't get in Gryffindor?"
"I wouldn't care, but she'd be crushed. I told her Harry's secret, how he avoided Slytherin."
"He avoided Slytherin." I see that taking a moment to process. "He avoided. Slytherin." Another pause. "Why?"
"Riddle. Voldemort. That being 'his' house and all."
"Hmph." He sniggered. "Not cool Potter, not cool at all."
"How old are you Draco?"
"Sorry honey. I'm just thinking, what would have changed if we were civil to each other - or in the same house. He probably would have liked being in Slytherin. We had fun."
"So did we."
"No dear, you were all noble. You were the ones that took on the challenges no one else wanted to face. You took on a bloody troll first year. That's not fun, that's suicidal. You three needed your heads examined."
"Dear, for us that's fun. That and beating Slytherin in quidditch every year."
He bends down so that we are cheek to cheek, me pressed against his back and his arms wrapped tightly around me. "That's low Granger. Really bloody low. Want a butterbeer?"
"Please."
"I'll be right back. Just so you know, I've been waiting about 20 years to ask you that." He smirks and turns to get the drink.
"Spill… You're the closest sister I have here and I need to know. How's he doing? He's so out of his comfort zone." Ginny rushes up as soon as he is out of earshot and starts her interrogation.
"He's - um - yeah - it's an adjustment for him."
"Good? Bad? How?"
"Awkward. He really doesn't fit in."
"We're all adjusting. Wait til we break the news to the family. I almost don't want to be there, but I do and with popcorn and a bottle of firewhiskey. Luckily he has Harry on his side now. Oh good they're talking." She nods to our husbands who seem to be chatting up like old friends.
"Did you notice Al talking to Scorpius?"
"Albus and Scorpius - a lotta yusses."
"At least Scorpius will know someone. And Al will know someone outside the family."
"A Potter and Malfoy becoming friends. 10 years ago it would be unheard of. Now we have two generations of friendships. That's making me feel slightly uncomfortable."
"Don't be. Draco is a great guy. Scorpius is a better version of him. So Al is going to have a good friend."
"Yeah yeah yeah… Oh the real reason I came here. It's time for cake. So drag yourself and that husband" she whispers "to the rest of us and stop hiding."
"Mum this gift from Mr Malfoy, it looks expensive. It's beautiful. I can't. And then his son, giving me a phone? That is extravagant." My sweet daughter is looking at a red crystalline rose with gold trim hanging from a gold chain from a man that she never has met before.
"Darling that is a Malfoy for you."
"But mum? I don't know either of them. Why would they do something like this?"
"Dear, how do I explain Malfoys… they are over the top. It surprises me that it didn't give him a heart attack to give something red and gold." I smile thinking back to his little outburst about Gryffindor pride, but I am proud that my husband thought of her first. "He and our family - specifically your uncle Harry and I - have become close due to work and other interests. I would just write a nice thank you card to the two of them. It also goes with your dress perfectly. Let me see it on you." I fasten the rose around her neck. "There, yes it is perfect."
It feels good to be home, my home. It isn't much, I mean we are on two Ministry salaries - now one, but it has a beautiful garden, the kids have their own space and a family area. The colors are in a mix of contemporary neutrals and some random pops - like in Rosie's room it is a bright red wall against three golden white walls.
I walk downstairs to see Hugo and Padfoot playing in the family room, another simple room with a large hearth and the same golden yellow walls. There is the one wall that is all glass, leading out to the gardens. In between the cream slipcovered couch and the display coffee table I see the two wrestling, like Draco was in Rio.
"Good to be home sweetie?"
"Very. Padfoot seems different though. How was her trip?"
"She enjoyed Rio a lot. She was a little escape artist, kept running off to the neighbor's suite."
"She is more playful and I can't put my finger on it mum. Just different."
"Well the neighbor became a dog person because of her. The two of them, well I caught them wrestling like this on more than one occasion. It was like she got her puppy-hood back."
"That's it. She thinks she's a puppy again." He looked down at his dog. "You have better not traded me in for a better model."
"I don't think she sees it that way. More like she has another friend." And a daddy figure that likes to spoil her.
"I'm taking her outside to play some more."
"I'll make dinner. Anything you want? Since your sister had breakfast, lunch, and the massive lion head cake already?"
"Meatloaf? With potatoes. Please mum."
"Got it." Good something both the kids like. I walk over to the kitchen, just off the family room and dining room to start dinner, when a lovely owl appears. The note had a simple message: 'Four days! Dinner suggestions? PLEASE!~GP'
Oh hell I don't know what to have? I don't know what Draco and Scorpius will want? I'll have to get back to her soon.
Until then I need to start dinner.
Joyous quiet time. It is so little in this house. But I was able to get some while my daughter was upstairs writing thank you owls for all her numerous and gracious gifts and my son was outside tiring a small furry creature that we think is a dog. Right now, not so sure. Dogs I have always heard are more agreeable than cats. This one, well Crookshanks had a better temperament than Padfoot at the moment. It is like she's missing someone. Someone with an amazing body, eyes I get lost in, and that I am missing terribly at this moment.
Our dinner conversation is light, I inform the kids that in a couple of days I have to travel to the US for an important meeting about their dad and Uncle Harry. They both are optimistic to get news on what exactly happened to Ron. As am I. Like how could he be such a slime and leave me and these two? What the bloody hell could have made him come to that decision?
An elegant black owl with greenish yellow eyes swoops in right before dinner is served. "Who could you be?" I ask. "Kids are any of you expecting a letter?"
Rosie's the first one down and in the dining room. "No my Hogwarts letter has come already and most of my supplies are bought."
"Nope. Not unless uncle George sent me something."
"Not his owl." I reach over and remove the letter that the bird held in its beak. Instantly I recognize the black parchment and green penmanship, though it is slightly different with the name "Rose Granger-Weasley" on it. Turning it over I notice the Malfoy family crest.
I slip it to Rosie. "I think I know who this is from." My eyes probably gave it away, but I am curious on which of the Malfoy men would be writing to my daughter.
She looked at the letter, blushing, "be back mum" and raced upstairs.
I turned to the owl and tossed her a crust of bread. "Looks like you'll be making frequent trips here my friend," and with a nod of understanding it flew off.
"What was that all about mum?" my son asks with the naivete of a nine year old boy.
"Give yourself a few years dear, and you'll understand."
"MUUUUUUUUUMMMM! Do you know how to program a number into an iPhone?" I hear my daughter call out from upstairs. Laughing I know exactly who it was from and what the content of the letter entailed.
I need to have a talk with my husband on his son's intentions with my daughter.
That sounded REALLY wrong.
